Appendix B: Data Sources
Team 7
SWOT Data Sources
Strengths:

1. MLIS certified SLMC
Annotation: Personnel records and teacher certification records
Sources: Lafayette County School Board Public Records, Florida Department of Education
http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/public.asp

2. Weekly school news broadcast written, produced, and edited by students in media center with media specialist as advisor adding to positive atmosphere and school spirit.
Annotation: Media center website and <journalism> club web page show a fun activity that reaches every person in the school.
Source: Beuford Franklin Edison High School Website
http://hornet.beuford.k12.fl.us/lhs/lhs.htm

3. School blog for reading clubs and instructional opportunities
Annotation: Recently created media center website to attract more students to the library.
Source: Beuford Franklin Edison High School Website
http://hornet.beuford.k12.fl.us/lhs/lhs.htm

4. Media center is used for many activities including chess and debate club meetings, tutoring sessions, etc.
Annotation: staff interview via email, Beuford Franklin High School website
Source: : Beuford Franklin Edison High School Website:
smithl@beuford.k12.fl.us, http://hornet.beuford.k12.fl.us/lhs/lhs.htm

5. Teachers and media specialist collaborate for a wide variety of information gathering.
Annotation: Teachers contact the media specialist for help in gathering information regarding lesson plans, webquests, professional journals, and a plethora of other things.
Source: Staff interview via email, Beuford Franklin High School website, staff surveys

smithl@beuford.k12.fl.us, http://hornet.beuford.k12.fl.us/lhs/lhs.htm

6. Media specialist has in-depth knowledge of students’ and staff needs because of small school size.
Annotation: Staff interview via email, Beuford Franklin High School website
Source: Beuford Franklin Edison High School Website:
smithl@beuford.k12.fl.us, http://hornet.beuford.k12.fl.us/lhs/lhs.htm

Weaknesses:
1. Small number of computers available in media center.
Annotation: Staff interview via email
Source: Beuford Franklin Edison High School Website
http://hornet.beuford.k12.fl.us/lhs/lhs.htm

2. No written customer service policy
Annotation: Beuford Franklin Edison High School Media Center website lacks this policy.
Source: Beuford Franklin Edison High School Website
http://lm.beuford.k12.fl.us/mediacenter

3. Restrictive censorship inhibits academic research.
Annotation: Staff and student surveys
Source: Media specialist, Technology Specialist school wide surveys


4. Lack of professional resources for teachers
Annotation: Staff and student surveys
Source: Media specialist, Technology Specialist, school wide surveys


5. Outdated, small collection
Annotation: Staff interview via email
Source: Media specialist Leslie Smith’s email,
smithl@beuford.k12.fl.us

6. Lack of cultural and ethnic diversity in collection
Annotation: Staff and student surveys

Source: Media specialist, school wide surveys


Opportunities

1. Title 1, Part A
Annotation: This program provides financial assistance to schools with high percentages of poor students to help the school meet these students’ academic needs.
Source: U.S. Department of Education website
http://www.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/index.html

2. Grant possibilities
Annotation: Grant opportunities through the government will provide money for computers, internet access, <after school activities > and technical training.
Source: U.S. Department of Education website
http://www.ed.gov/fund/landing.jhtml
Source: http://www.afterschool.gov/

3. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) could provide funds for technology additions, improvements, and updates.
Annotation: Money is going to be invested into public schools to improve technology such as fiber optics, wireless, smartboards, etc.
Source: American Library Assn. http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/advocacy/knowstimulus/index.cfm , http://www.fldoe.org/ARRA/pdf/stategrantsa.pdf


4. Small district size allows membership in Northeast Florida Educational Consortium
Annotation: Membership provides assistance with professional development and technology
Source: Lafayette County School Board website http://lm.lafayette.k12.fl.us/ , Northeast Florida Educational Consortium website http://www.nefec.org/

5. Scholastic Book Fair should be held annually in the media center.
Annotation: The media specialist would like to promote reading <for pleasure.>
Source: http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/profile/login.jsp


6. New superintendent should garner community awareness for the media center and its possible uses.
Annotation: New superintendent’s positive public welcome may be used to help bring awareness to the media center and publicize the <media center's vital role in the community and variety of uses.>
Source: Lafayette County School Board website
http://lm.lafayette.k12.fl.us/

7. Small district size allows membership in Northeast Florida Educational Consortium, which provides assistance with professional development and technology for small school districts.
Annotation: This consortium can aid the media specialist with training and technology suggestions and opportunities and also allow her to network with other school media specialists from rural districts.

Source: http://www.nefec.org/services/page.asp?pageid=41


8. BFE High School earned a B from the Florida Department of Education This shows that students are making improvements in reading, writing, math and science.
Annotation: <Suwannee Democrat online newspaper>
Source: Florida Department of Education
http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/public.asp

9. Small town atmosphere positively influences school culture.
Annotation: <Parents and teachers know and support each other in the education process. Also, paper prints many positive stories regarding BFE.>
Source: Lafayette Chronicle, http://lafayettechronicleonline.com




Threats

1. Conservative community has a history of censorship by limiting access to books and online information.
Annotation: Lafayette County School Board meeting minutes shows most board members support strict internet filtering and removal of controversial books.
Source: Lafayette County School Board website
http://lm.lafayette.k12.fl.us/


2. County has smaller than average population of high school graduates; education is under-valued
Annotation: Census shows 68.2% high school graduate rate in county vs. 79.9% rate for Florida population.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12067.html

3. School is located in a very poor community.
Annotation: School tax money is minimal and support for the media center is low on the priority list.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12067.html

4. Small population in a rural county inhibits grant awards.
Annotation: With the downturn in the economy, grants have become very competitive and more difficult to win.
Source: Lafayette County School Board archives

http://lm.lafayette.k12.fl.us/archives
Source: U.S Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12067.html

5. New superintendent may not support the media center and divert funds to other areas of the school.
Annotation: The new superintendent's intentions are currently unknown.
Source: Lafayette County School Board minutes
http://lm.lafayette.k12.fl.us/
minutes